Run For Your Wife
May 2004
by Ray Cooney, directed by Chris Stabb
Cast: Mary Smith - Chloe Bardolf-Smith Barbara Smith - Tini Kay John Smith - Mick Munns Detective Sergeant Troughton - Tom Stabb Stanley Gardner - Steve Carroll Newspaper Reporter - Ben Beeson Detective Sergeant Porterhouse - Alan Caig Bobby Franklyn - John Palmer | Production Team: Director - Chris Stabb Production Manager - Margaret Butt Lighting - Ben Fricker Set construction - Philip Keen Set decoration - Clare Girvan Sound - Ben Beeson Props - Sheila Wall & Rose Gander Prompt - Margaret Butt Publicity - Mary Jones Front of House - Lynn Trout Posters - Philip Keen Programme - Philip Jones & Margaret Butt |
Reviews:
From Estuary News:
Farce is the most difficult of arts - they got it right ...
This brilliantly structured play was well up to the high standard previously shown by the Estuary Players in their previous productions. The farce is set in the 1980s, in a London cabby's two houses. One is in Streatham and one is in Wimbledon - each with a wife, unknown to the other, and both properties shown on stage as one very clever set, side by side with two colour schemes. Following his gallant attempt attempt to intervene in a mugging, the husband is put into hospital for the night. His life unravels and his carefully planned schedule, which had allowed him to shuttle between wives in the taxi, is totally disrupted.
Mick Munns played the wimpish but believable husband and Chloë Bardolf-Smith and Tini Kay were the 2 wives of different temperament, gradually realising and reacting with fury to their impression that things were not quite as they seemed. Steve Carroll added exceptionally good confusion and bewilderment to the plot as the hapless neighbour from upstairs.
Tom Stabb, together with Alan Caig, were the well-meaning but prying detective sergeants from separate police stations trying to sort out a mugging where the victim had given 2 addresses while confused in hospital. A friend with knowledge of these matters said that Tom Stabb as DS Troughton would be 'instantly recognisable from the Torquay nick canteen'.
The cast list was completed by Ben Beeson, newspaper reporter and John Palmer, a rather camp neighbour who together added even more perplexity to the situation.
Farce is the most difficult of arts - they got it right but it does date very quickly. The 1980s telephone was central to the story and one can only begin to imagine what changes would be needed for things to be set in 2004 with each character having his or her own mobile phone. However, it was great pleasure to come out in Topsham to such a totally enjoyable and entertaining play. No surprise it was a full house and never have more than one wife at a time - it can only lead to trouble.
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